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Fish takes Rusper with 8pts on 18th.
We've played in the rain at Okehampton, we've played in the broiling sun, notably at Singing Hills, we've played in the wind at Littlehampton, we've played in the sand at Omaha Beach, we've played in the swamps at Maintenon, we've played in the hills at Clecy. We've played all over the place but never on a pinball machine before.
I don't know if you felt it but suddenly you feel like there's no space. It's really as you stand on the wide open 8th tee and try to thread a shot into the tunnel of trees 200 yards ahead. You take your 5 wood or even an iron instead of your driver. But it doesn't matter it still goes in the trees. Even if its on the fairway it still bounces in to the trees. I hate this game especially when Blod tells me "Mannings is easy". Thanks mate!
I was very good at slicing all day....except when I wanted to. I set up to fade on the 8th from the trees on the right and hit it (I must say beautifully) straight into the trees on the far left. Fortunately I was not alone. In fact in the woods it was very friendly. More golfers than mosquitoes.
Sometimes it pays to be a little unaware when you play golf. For the pros they can get into their groove and block out the crowd. For me I can get into my rut and block out the fact that I have a mulligan to use. By the time I realised and got to the 17th, it was too late......and it cost me a pound! I was playing with Derrick and Rob. We kind of woke up on the 16th when we all hit great drives. Or I guess we all woke up when Rob was claiming the longest drive and we realised that even on 20 points Derek (read bandit) was in the 2nd division. Which meant I had the longest drive in the first division until "guess who" beat me by 10 yards.
Anyway having awoken, or was it the lack of trees now, we discussed the double hole. Derrick and Rob took theirs on the 17th but I didn't get a shot so I saved it for the 18th. So I birdie the 17th! Where did that come from?? Should've used my double there I was muttering. So I'll have to work hard on the 18th to double that, but we all know you follow a birdie with a double bogey or worse. Low and behold, begorrah and bejabers................another birdie and 8 points!! I love this game.
So back to the clubhouse for beef wellington. No it's rack of lamb. No wonder there's no sheep on the course, we had it last year as well. Rob, Derrick and Phil worried about eating relatives. Fortunately we had our miscreant (at least on tour) fines master telling us many stories of how Kevin and his missus spend their time together. Phil M seems as talented at collecting money as he does paying it out. Paul’s pocket was steaming at the end of the session!
Chris, who worked solidly on his round rather than relying on flukes and happenstance, also scored 34. Also got 20 on the back 9. Equal on the back 6. But it was always going to be tough to win the back 3 with that 8 on the 18th!. Apologies Chris! Derrick won the second division. He told us he mis-spent his youth on the driving range on his farm. A natural swing and some lovely hits. Unfortunately you have to swing a little slower on your short game mate. Still a handicap of 20 was a bit of a gift. Hasta La Vista. Kevin took the nearest the pin for the first division. For second division we're considering a nearest the golf course award.
Just one last word on slow play. There is a big focus on speeding up the game. This is coming from the top of the game, the R&A, no less. Time taken to play the game is cited as the biggest cause of the drop in frequency of play in the UK. So would the groups at the back please try to keep up with those of us in front.
FISH
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